There is discontent among progressives in the European Parliament and Commission after news leaked that the Dutch government will likely appoint a fiscally conservative Christian Democrat to partially fill the post of departed EU climate czar Frans Timmermans, who removed himself from Brussels politics last month to lead a green-left election in the upcoming Dutch elections in November.
Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra was nominated Thursday afternoon by outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte to take up the mantle as his country’s next EU Commissioner. Hoekstra’s selection has unsettled many Eurocrats and Mediterranean nations for his steadfast opposition to pan-European “COVID bonds” in 2020 meant to share the cost of the pandemic among EU nations.
While the majority of the European Green Deal will be managed by Slovakian socialist Maroš Šefčovič, progressives fear that Hoekstra will inherit some duties around climate action, with the ultimate appointment requiring the approval of Commission President von der Leyen.
The centre-left S&D group has already voiced its dissatisfaction with the possibility of Hoekstra taking up aspects of the climate portfolio, stating that their MEPs would question the Dutch politician on his “European commitments and values,” accusing the EPP group, which Hoekstra aligns with, of turning their backs on the climate agenda in recent months to placate right-wing populists.
There are signs in Brussels that the cross-partisan coalition of the left and centre-right in the European Parliament—and even in the Commission—that has directed hardline green policies since 2019 has broken down almost entirely, with the conservative EPP group rebelling against the Nature Restoration Law during heated legislative sessions in July.
An anonymous EPP source told Politico that they hoped Hoekstra’s appointment would open the door to more balanced EU green legislation, while the Dutch Volt MEP Sophie in ‘t Veld declared on social media that the nomination would face challenges in Parliament and that she would see Hoekstra removed from the climate post .
Before taking up the new position, Hoekstra will need the approval of both the Commission president and also need to pass through multiple hearings in the European Parliament. In the final stretch before European elections in June next year, there are multiple top roles opening up in the EU bureaucracy, with Eurocrats split on appointing an American-born candidate to fill the shoes of departed digital head honcho Margrethe Vestager.
